Sleep Training

Its no secret that getting our wee one to sleep has proved problematic. I know we're not alone, but it sure can feel that way when you're in the midst of it. Recently we've noticed that Alison is much fussier and less attentive during the day, and I attribute this shift to her lack of naptime sleep. She's been doing worlds better on nighttime sleep for about the last 2 weeks, even sleeping up to 11 hours on most nights. Its those pesky naps that have us pulling our hair.

I'll admit that I have been pretty relaxed on having any sort of schedule, be it for feeding or sleeping. I thought it was working for us but, at close examination, it really wasn't. I let Alison tell me when she was hungry and I would wait until I saw a sign that she was sleepy to start my (pretty much) non-existent nap routine. No wonder she couldn't fall asleep!

From what I've been re-reading in Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child she's unable to coax herself to sleep for naps because she is so overtired. A particular passage really resonated with me and sounded EXACTLY like what Alison has been going through. So, we're going to try out the advice of putting her to bed a bit earlier than normal (5:30) for a bit and really hammer out being home for all of her naps and getting that ROUTINE down.

I've just got to say how much I appreciate all of my mommy friends for their words of wisdom, encouragement, and honesty.

Love this new smile 4-2-13

My silly sunshine girl 4-1-13

A Week of Firsts

This has been a great week & another one for the record books.

Monday we went to our first ever story time at our local library. The story time for her age group is 9:30 am but we never get to go since that is (usually) smack dab in the middle of Alison's morning nap (ugh). Thanks to the time change,however, she was "off schedule" and not ready to nap until much later so we were able to go. It was so much fun!!! Unfortunately, she adjusted her schedule by Tuesday and the chances of us making next weeks story time is slim. Honestly, I was shocked there were so many "regulars" able to make the 9:30 time. All the baby sleep reading I've done suggests babies around this age form a morning nap beginning around 9 or 10. Beats me! There is another library closer to a friends home that has the same program at 10:30 which would better suit our needs. Hopefully we'll be able to go with them sometime soon ( or just on our own ).

Equally (if not more) groundbreaking, last night was the FIRST time Alison has gone to bed in her crib "tired but awake". A little voice inside my head said to really give it a good shot, which I did, and the pay off was phenomenal. As I've mentioned before, we've had to rock her to sleep and VERY carefully put her in her crib, otherwise there were countless tears. It pulled at our heart strings - we just couldn't let her cry like that. So, instead we followed her lead and gave her what she wanted. It appears there is a change in the air, now at 5 1/2 months old. Slowly, I shifted from rocking her to just holding. From letting her nurse to sleep, to pulling my breast away when she was done but still awake. It took about a week but I finally got her to go to sleep just by holding her, which I had been doing for naps as well as night time sleep. I seriously felt like a rock star. I got her to go to sleep without crying it out (not to say she didn't protest) and at her own will. The benefit was immeasurable - she didn't wake up several times before finally nodding off, which had been her habit since that dreaded regression some 8 weeks ago. She only woke up when her white noise turned off (but we fixed that problem) and gave us a nice 7 hour stretch. I can't remember the last time she did that!

What's more? We just did the same routine just now for a nap. She fought it more than she did last night (My guess is because she's not as sleepy as she is before nighttime sleep), but she still went down awake in her crib. I'm typing this entry now from her rocking chair as I promised her (yes I know.. It's not like she understood the promise, but I'm a mommy of my word) that I wouldn't leave her room as she slept. It's been 30 minutes now and I feel like I can mark this go a success, too. I'm one proud momma!

Also making me incredibly happy is reflecting on my love - I met my fantastic husband in a bar with good friends five years ago this evening. That man is one in a million- the most amazing spouse and the best father I could have hoped for for our Alison. I'll try not to be too mushy - but Shane is seriously the B.E.S.T. :)

My mom is coming down this weekend and I am really looking forward to it. Perhaps ill get to clean some during Alison's afternoon nap. I can dream, right??

Have a great weekend, friends!!

A girl and her Daddy 3-11-13

Big Girl! 3-14-13

Up All Night

I sure have gotten behind on just about all non-essential tasks. These days I'm focusing on keeping the house somewhat in order, making sure we're all fed, and taking what little me time I get to zone out or nap.

I've been hoping for Alison's sleeping habits to improve but unfortunately they have gotten even worse and I'm depending a little more on some caffeinated assistance because of it. We're putting her down after her bedtime routine around 7pm and she wakes just about every half hour until 9 or 10 pm when she finally sleeps (her longest stretch) she gives us until maybe 1am before she's up 2 or 3 more times. I never thought I could be so tired. I know it was completely ignorant, but I thought we passed the up all the time stage (except for teething) and that we had a great little sleeper. It's been 7 weeks since she slept longer than a 5 hour stretch. It's just a phase. It's just a phase. It's just a phase.

I have a few friends who have suggested we try CIO (cry it out) methods or. Aria tons to get her to sleep longer. It just makes me uncomfortable right now and I truly think she's just too young for that. We don't jump up the second she starts fussing, but Alison has a tendency to go from 0 to 60 in no time,and,man does that girl have a set of pipes. Every few days we try to get her to tolerate longer stretches but progress seems to be inching slower than molasses. I keep telling myself that no too babies are alike and there is just no point to try to compare her habits with another child.

Needless to say this lack of sleep has me a bit cross eyed and when I DO have a moment to post, I can't think of two words to put together. I want to try harder though because these posts have served as a nice reflection on times gone by. Soon, I hope, I will regain some sanity.

What's that, a Yawn?!?! 3-6-13

Its a Miracle!

My beautiful girl slept in her own room all night for the first time last night (tear!!) it may have been just the ticket we needed to get passed the dreaded four month sleep regression. We put her down around 7 , she woke up at midnight and slept straight through to 645! She hadn't slept this well since she started this regression at 15 weeks (5 weeks ago).

Now if I could only get her to cooperate for naps...

Week 19

It's been a few days since my last post but in my defense things have been pretty wild around here.

I know I've written countless posts about my girls sleep (and lack thereof) but really - at 4 1/2 months old (trying to) sleep is one of the main parts of her day.

Anyhow, the last few days have been particularly trying. Our girl only wants to sleep on us- a preference I thought she gave up back on week 15. We gave up swaddling because she is rolling in one direction and so close to going the other way, but it is nearly impossible to put her down to sleep without her screaming.

I swear I've tried it all. Her pediatrician said she's too old to be rocked to sleep and we should be working toward putting her down awake but drowsy. How is this possible?!? She yells like her leg is broken (I assure you it's not) the second we put her down after an abbreviated bedtime routine. I've tried singing lullabies, rubbing her belly, holding her hand, letting her fuss for a minute (we are not comfortable with letting her cry for extended periods at this age), letting her see me "sleep" in the rocking chair - none of it works. She is so so upset and just wants her mom. I promise were trying to put her downstream the first signs of sleepiness but by the time I give in some 45 minutes later, she has fallen apart and is SO exhausted I end up saying screw it - she can just sleep on me. Clearly my baby is boss.

It all came to a head two nights ago when even her night sleep was being disrupted heavily. She went down for the first leg of her sleep fine - but around midnight she woke up and didn't want to be put down - she was so tired but wouldn't sleep. We even thought it was possible that she was teething (she's not). Needless to say, yesterday I was pretty tired and thank goodness my husband was able to come home early to give me a break.

Last night she slept much better so maybe things are turning around. I haven't read the book, just blurbs about it online, but The Wonder Weeks claims there is a huge growth spurt around 19 weeks (peach turned 19 weeks Monday) that lasts from 15 weeks old to around 20. During this time their sleep gets wonky, they are more clingy, and a bit more fussy. I know it may be silly, but it's been putting my mind at ease to think this is just developmental and temporary. That we're not damaging progress by holding her more right now.I also find solace in those quiet moments with my babe in my arms thinking, soon enough, she won't want to be sleeping in my arms anymore and how foolish I may feel for wishing it away right now. I have been just watching her sleep and trying not to get to emotional when I think about how much I love her and how excited I am to watch her grow.

All I can do is keep trying to put her down awake but drowsy and not beat myself up when that attempt doesn't work. As another blog I read reminded me a few weeks ago, my baby is not a robot. I'll just continue to trust my heart, my intentions, and know that it'll all work out soon enough.

Alone, once more?

Over the weekend we finally made a purchase that will take us into the next stage of Peach's sleep: blackout shades. Her room is south-facing (and coincidentally the brightest room in the house) and curtains just won't cut it if you plan on having her sleep a wink in it. Before this weekend, her crib was used maybe a half dozen times (perhaps on a very overcast day, or in those early weeks when light didn't wake her) and was more of a decoration than anything else. Instead, we have had her in our room, first at the foot of our bed, then at my side when she began waking less frequently, in a pack-n-play. We know she's not a fan of it (although she tolerates it) as she slams her legs down on the paper-thin mattress. It even sounds thin.

Anyhow, I was all ramped up to finally get our room back. No more whispering when we came in for the night, we could have more 'mom & dad time' without feeling strange (sorry, mom), and most importantly, my girl could finally use her crib that we bought all those months ago. All day Saturday and Sunday we laid her in her nap to crib (still swaddled - its hard to break!) and celebrated its success. Additionally, last night we decided it was time to let her sleep in there overnight - Gasp!

Like I said before, I was excited for this move. Even after I got her down (finally) and came down to watch some of the Superbowl with my husband I was happy about the transition. However, when it came time for us to go to bed, I couldn't help but whisper (even though its unnecessary) and when I looked into the empty pack-n-play I felt like crying - my baby was gone. Even my husband noted how empty the room felt.

Needless to say, I quickly declared that if/when she woke in the night, I'd be bringing her back in. Shane agreed. She woke up at 1 am (still getting through the 4 month sleep regression) and I was so happy to bring her back, I practically (sleep)skipped. I am still excited for her to sleep in her room and hope for the transition to be complete within a week - but for right now - I'm content with the baby steps.

9,11,1, 3, 5

That's the closest we've had to a nap schedule yet. 5 times a day, for forty minutes. I was nursing her to sleep but I've gone back to nursing her when she wakes up or simply on demand (not that she ever turns a feeding down). I know its completely developmental and she IS sleeping at night so I should thank my lucky stars, BUT it would be nice to get more than 40 minutes to eat a sandwich, catch up on my blog, do a chore or two, WHATEVER!

Well, those 40 minutes are just about up so I better use the restroom before...

Nevermind, she's up.

I Dream of Sleep

Gotta love babies - always changing!

Last I wrote our girl had rolled over, hurrah! Once she figured out how to do it she straight up refuses to entertain anymore tummy time. She gets on her stomach and rolls over immediately. Girl has got it!

Since Monday she has been napping on her own pretty darn well. I swaddle her tight, nurse her, put some white noise on (via my phone so I lose access during her naps.. ah well), and put her in the pack and play. Usually she will fuss a little but with my hand on her chest she normally falls (and stays) asleep just fine. She has been refusing an evening nap, though, so the past two nights I've been wearing her in the Moby for the last nap. I figure 1 of 4 naps in it is better than all 4, right?

Now, she's been a great sleeper since pretty much day 1. She worked up to sleeping an average of 9 hour chunks at night UNTIL Monday night. Sigh! After that beautiful, very accomplished day, she went to bed at 7:15pm only to wake up just before midnight. And again at 3am. And again at 6am. She would wake up so HAPPY and GIGGLING and READY TO PLAY.I couldn't help but think

Oh dear. Not now, babe. Now its time for sleep.

But happy as a clam she was until I nursed her and put her back down. Well, this has been the case for the last two nights. Frantic, I turned to Google (ahh.. trusty Google). Turns out this is totally normal (doesn't make it easier) and is due to her sleeping more like an adult - coming in and out of sleep cycles. Unlike adults, who may fluff their pillow,  check the time, turn over, etc. she can't adjust and ends up waking up. At least I can take comfort in knowing this is a normal part of development. That should make it easier, right? ;)

In all seriousness, this week has been a blessing. I feel much more at ease than I did a few days ago. Yes, its momentary, until something else happens that makes me feel like I'm losing it, but its here now and I am thankful.

First time she fell asleep on her own. I think it was a fluke because it didn't happen again for a few more weeks. :) 12/21/12

Can't Resist that Smile 1/15/2013

Further Reading:

4 Month Old Sleep Regression Explained 

4 months Sleep Regression - Wonder Week 19

Wakeful 4 Month Olds